Fire extinguishing system



March 6, 1934. Q RQWLEY 1,950,270

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 26. 1930 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Arthur G. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa, assignor to Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania I Original application August 26, 1930, Serial No.

477,901. Divided and this application December 10, 1932, Serial No. 646,684

8 Claims.

This application is a division of my application for patent filed August 26, 1930, Serial Number 477,901.

This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishing systems, and a principal object of the invention is to provide a novel and desirable fusible venting unit for normally closed systems, useful, for example, for releasing stored up pressure in fire detection systems upon a predeterm mined rise in temperature within the zone in which said unit is installed, and adapted particularly to systems depending upon a sudden change of pressure for actuation of a diaphragm or the equivalent controlling operation of fluid 1. discharge devices.

In the attached drawing:

Figure 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a unit made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2,

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating a typical installation embodying my invention;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing a detail of the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the details of another element of the apparatus.

With reference to the drawing, my device in a o preferred form comprises a casing 1 provided in the present instance with a hollow threaded extension 2 and having at the opposite end therefrom an aperture 3. In the present instance, the casing 1 consists of a cylindrical cup-shaped part 5 4, in one end of which is formed the opening 3,

and a member 5 which carries the threaded extension 2 and which is united with the member 4 by means of interlocking flanges 6 and '7, as illustrated in Fig. l, the flange 7 being beaded over and confining the flange 6 and retaining the parts together. At this joint a seal may be obtained by means of a gasket 10.

Within the cylindrical casing portion 4 is a plunger 8 having a stem 9 which extends down- 5 wardly and into the opening 3, said stem having an enlarged cylindrical extremity 11 which more or less neatly fills the aperture 3, while the remaining or inner portion of the stem is somewhat smaller in cross-sectional area than the said aperture for a purpose hereinafter set forth. A spring 12 is confined between the inner face of the plunger 8 and the inner surface of the memher 5 and exerts a pressure upon the plunger tending to force it towards the apertured end of 56 the member 4.

In practice, the plunger is maintained in a position such as illustrated in Fig. 1 against the pressure of the spring by a solid body 13 of a suitable fusible compound, preferably of the character of alphamonoitronaphthalene or the like which maintains its solid form substantially unchanged until the critical fusion temperature is reached. Sufficient of this material is placed in the casing 1 to support the plunger 8 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the enlarged stem portion 11 occupies a position in, and substantially closes, the aperture 3. The fusible material preferably is introduced into the container in a liquid state, and provision is made in the form of recesses 14 in the peripheral edge of the plunger 8 for permitting the liquid to enter the space at the outer end of the casing member 4, the enlargement 11 of the plunger stem preventing escape of the material while in the liquid state. The fusible material is then permitted to 7 solidify, whereupon the parts are maintained in the relative positions illustrated until such time as excessive temperatures in the space surrounding the casing 1 result in a fusion of the composition, at which time the spring 12 functions to force the plunger outwardly. The initial movement of the plunger carries the enlargement 11 out of the aperture 3 and provides clearance, between the smaller portion of the stem 9 and the edges of the aperture 3, through which the fused material may escape. Escape of the material in this manner affords a free passage for a fluid through the casing 1.

In conjunction with the device described above, I employ a socket member 15 which may be secured by solder or by other suitable means in the wall of a chamber constituting a part of the normally closed system with which my device is to be used and which system may, for example, contain air or other fluid medium under 95 a predetermined elevated pressure. The socket member 15 has an aperture 16 in its inner wall and is threaded for reception of the threaded projecting portion of the casing member 5 whereby the latter may be secured as illustrated in 100 Fig. l with its interior communicating through the aperture 16 with the interior of the system.

In operation, the parts are maintained as illustrated, the fusible material 13 preventing escape of the fluid contents of the system to which the device is connected. Elevated temperatures in the space surrounding the casing 1 result in fusion of the substance 13 as described and subsequent escape thereof through the aperture 3, thereby affording a vent to the atmosphere from the interior of the system.

Following actuation of the device as described above, the casing 1 may be unthreaded from the socket 15 and replaced by a fresh unit adapted to operate as set forth above.

In Fig. 3 .I have illustrated a typical system embodying my invention. With reference thereto 20 indicates a sprinkler system which is connected to a water main 21 through a valve 22. The sprinkler heads of the system 20 are indicated at 20a. The valve 22 is of a type adapted to be held closed against water pressure in the main 21 by fiuid pressure within the sprinkler system, and may take the form, for example, of the valve illustrated in my U. S. Patent No. 1,446,321, dated February 20, 1923. A detector system 23 is connected to the system 20 through a restricted orifice at 24, and this orifice also bypasses a casing 25, interior portions 26 and 27 of which, communicating respectively with the sprinkler and detector systems, are separated by a flexible diaphragm 28. The diaphragm is operatively connected through a rod 29 with a lever 31 pivotally mounted at 32 within the casing, and this lever in a predetermined normal position, as shown, is adapted to support upon its upper end one arm of a second lever 33, also pivotally mounted at 34, within the casing. The other arm of the lever 33 extends downwardly and functions as a latch to retain a third pivoted lever 35 in a position as shown in Fig. 3, in which it in turn supports a lever 36, and, through the latter, a weight 37. The weight is attached to the lower end of a rod 38 guided for vertical movement in an arm 39 in the casing, and the rod 38 has a shoulder 41 under which the lever 36 engages to retain the weight in the elevated position. With the parts as shown in Fig. 3, movement of the diaphragm 28 in either direction by reason of an unbalance of pressures in the chambers 26 and 27 will effect a release through the lever train 3l--33-3536 of the weight 37 which in dropping will strike an arm 42 and open a valve 43 connected thereto, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Connected with the system 20 through a pipe 44 is an air compressor 45. The pipe 44 includes a check valve 46, and a branch pipe 47 extends from the pipe 44 to the valve 43 within the casing 25. This valve 43, shown in Fig. 5, in alternative positions connects the branch 47 with the interior of the casing 25 and with a pipe 48 extending to the exterior of the casing and to atmosphere. A float valve 49 (see Fig. 6) controls the branch duct 47, as hereinafter set forth. When the valve 43 is open to the casing 25, the lever 42 occupies the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and depression of the lever 42 by the weight 37 closes the valve to the casing and connects the pipe 47 to exhaust through the pipe 48.

In practice the two systems 20 and 23 are filled with air from the compresser at a pressure somewhat above atmospheric, the pressures in the systems being equalized through the orifice 24. The valve 22 is held by this pressure to its seat cutting off the main 21, and the pressure permeates both of the chambers 26 and 2'7 and exerts equal pressures on opposite sides of the diaphragm. Springs 51, 51, insure a centralized position of the diaphragm, as shown. Under these conditions gradual relative changes in pressure in the systems are compensated without actuation of the diaphragm 28 by transfer through the orifice 24; but a sudden chan e in pressure beyond the compensating capacity of the orifice results in a movement of the diaphragm releasing the weight 37 and thereby operates the valve 43 to open the systems to exhaust through the pipe 48. Relief of pressure in the system 20 effects an immediate opening of the valve 22, thereby flooding the system, escape of water from the main through the exhaust 48 being prevented by the float valve 49.

In apparatus of this general character, a detector depending for operation entirely upon increase of pressure in the system is sometimes ineffective under slow-fire conditions, since the pressure must increase at a rate greater than can be compensated by fiow through the orifice 24.

Under such conditions installation in the detector system of the release units described above insure operation by venting the detector system at a predetermined abnormal temperature and thus creating the sudden pressure differential required for actuation of the diaphragm.

In accordance with my invention, therefore, and as shown in Fig. 3, I provide the detector system 23 with the fusible units described above, the units, designated by the reference numeral 52, being inserted in the present instance in the casings 53 forming parts of the system.

This fusible device is well adapted for use in that type of fire detection system, illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, in which fiuid discharge devices are actuated through movement of a flexible diaphragm elfected by sudden release of pressure in a system with which said diaphragm is associated. The device in principle is suitable, however, not only for the relief of extra-atmospheric pressures within a normally closed system, but also for admission, under predetermined controlling temperature conditions, of air or other fluid to a normally closed system the internal pressure of which is lower than atmospheric. As regards the uses to which the device may be put, therefore, there is to be no limitation. As regards structural details, the device is capable of considerable modification without departure from the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, of a detector system located in the same fire-zone with and connected to the sprinkler system through a restricted orifice, a valve controlling the connection between the said main and the sprinkler system and normally maintained closed by pressure within said system, a normally closed valve adapted when open to exhaust the sprinkler system and thereby to permit the opening of the water valve, means operative by difference of pressure between the systems for opening said exhaust valve, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure exceeding atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

2. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, of a detector system located in the same fire-zone with and connected to the sprinkler system through "a restricted orifice, a valve controlling the connection between the said main and the sprinkler system and normally maintained closed by pressure within said system, a normally closed valve adapted when open to exhaust the sprinkler system and thereby to permit the opening of the water valve, means operative by difference of pressure between the systems for opening said exhaust valve, means for preventing escape of water from said exhaust, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure exceeding atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

3. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermallycontrolled sprinkler head, a valve controlling the connection between the said main and the sprinkler system and normally held to its seat by pressure within the sprinkler system located in the same fire-zone with said sprinkler system, a detector system, a casing having a movable partition exposed on opposite sides and respectively to the pressure within the sprinkler and detector systems, a restricted bypass between said systems, valve-controlled exhaust means for the sprinkler system, means releasable by movement of said partition due to difference of pressure within said systems for opening said exhaust valve, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure exceeding atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

4. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, a valve controlling the connection between the said main and the sprinkler system and normally held to its seat by pressure within the sprinkler system located in the same fire-Zone with said sprinkler system, a detector system, a casing having a movable partition exposed on opposite sides and respectively to the pressure within the sprinkler and detector systems, a restricted bypass between said systems, an exhaust duct for the sprinkler system extending through that chamber of the casing which communicates with the sprinkler systerm, a valve in the last-named chamber normally closing said exhaust duct, means operative by movement of the said partition due to a difierence of pressure within said systems for opening said valve, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure exceeding atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

5. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, of a valve controlling the connection between the said main and the sprinkler system and normally held closed by pressure within said system, a detector system located in the same fire-zone with said sprinkler system, a casing having independent chambers separated by a movable partition, means connecting said chambers respectively with the sprinkler and detector systems, a restricted bypass between said systems, an independent duct connecting that chamber of the casing which communicates with the sprinkler system with the latter system,

said duct having an exhaust extension to atmosphere, a valve located within said chamber and normally closing said exhaust, said valve being adapted to connect the said independent duct with the said chamber when the exhaust is closed and disconnecting the said duct from the chamber when the exhaust is open, means in said chamber for shifting the valve from the exhaust-closing to the exhaust-opening position, trip mechanism controlling said valve-actuating means and releasable by movement of the said partition due to difference in pressure within said systems, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure exceeding atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

6. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, of a detector system located in the same fire zone with and connected to the sprinkler system through a restricted orifice, a valve normally preventing flow of water from the main to the sprinkler system, means operative by a predetermined difierence in the pressures within the systems for releasing the valve to permit water to flow from the main to the sprinkler system, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure other than atmospheric, and thermosensitive venting means associated with the det'ector system.

7. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed and thermally-controlled sprinkler head, a detector system located in the same fire zone with and connected to the sprinkler system through a restricted orific, a valve normally preventing flow of water from the main to the sprinkler system, means operative by a predetermined difference in the pressures within the systems for releasing the valve to permit water to flow from the main into the sprinkler system, said release means including a normally closed valve adapted when open to connect the sprinkler system with the atmosphere, means for obtaining within the systems a pressure other than atmospheric, and thermo-sensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

8. The combination with a sprinkler system adapted for connection to a water main and comprising a normally closed sprinkler head, of a detector system located in the same fire zone with the sprinkler system, means providing for a gradual equalization of pressures within said systems, a valve normally preventing flow of Water from the main to the sprinkler system, means operative by a predetermined difference in the pressures within the systems for releasing the valve to permit water to flow from the main into the sprinkler system, means for obtaining within the systems a common pressure other than atmospheric, and thermo-sensitive venting means associated with the detector system.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

